Sega Wondermega Help [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

TonyTheTiger

04-20-2009, 06:40 PM

Ok, so I just got this shipped to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360147014862

It works great and I love the various sound options. But my problem is that I don't know how much use I'll get out of a console that can't play a good number of my games when my standard Genesis/Sega CD set up can. So the dilemma is between the superior video/sound of the Wondermega and the convenience of the Genesis/Sega CD.

What kind of options do I have here? Is there a modchip of sorts that will relieve me of the need to put in Game Genie codes for region locked Genesis games and burn all my Sega CD games with a modified region?

eugenek

04-20-2009, 07:45 PM

Holy shit, you got that for 30 bucks? Jesus, deal of the century. I even have an eBay saved search for "wondermega" but that useless POS system didn't alert me to jackshit. Ahem. Congratulations.

As for your second question, I know there's a modchip because my own Wondermega is modded, but I can't refer you to anyone because I bought it already installed from Japan and I don't think the seller installed it.

TonyTheTiger

04-20-2009, 07:49 PM

eugenek

04-20-2009, 08:02 PM

Yeah, $45 total out of pocket isn't bad I don't think. I've been getting mixed reports from people (all trustworthy) about what one is actually worth, though.

I was randomly browsing Sega CD games when that auction came up. It didn't even register in my head at first that it was a Japanese X'Eye until I did a quick Google search. It was definitely a right place at the right time situation. You can see the auction was up for only 17 minutes.

Does your modchip allow you to play both Genesis and Sega CD games from any region?

It's worth well over $500. The first model Wondermega is almost impossible to find (the second model Wondermega is actually the Jap X'Eye) and I've never even seen one for sale with the box. I've seen it a couple of times loose and it always sells for $300+.

You know, I'm embarrassed to say this, but now that I think about it, I don't know for sure if I can play U.S. Region CDs. I can definitely play both region's carts, but I didn't have any U.S. CD games when I first bought the Wondermega. I plugged in some carts and Mega CDs to make sure it worked and then just packed it away. I got some Sega CD games afterward but just played them with my CDX, which I had also acquired at the same time, and never even thought to pop them in the Wondermega before I sold the CDX and games. Ugh, now this is going to bother me...

CosmicMonkey

04-20-2009, 08:13 PM

MegaCart from Tototek for multi-region CD games. The MC also functions as a flash cart, or you could get something along the lines of a HoneyBee adaptor for playing carts from a different region.

Vlcice

04-20-2009, 08:17 PM

Megacart has compatibility issues with Wondermega/X'eye, however. On the Tototek forums, Fonzie mentions that there can be problems with garbled sound, and that there seem to be more issues with the Wondermega than the X'eye.

TonyTheTiger

04-20-2009, 08:23 PM

It's worth well over $500.

Damn. I kid you not that the range of quotes I got was between $90-$400 which leads me to believe that these things don't show up often enough for anybody to really measure it well.

Megacart has compatibility issues with Wondermega/X'eye, however. On the Tototek forums, Fonzie mentions that there can be problems with garbled sound, and that there seem to be more issues with the Wondermega than the X'eye.

That sucks. An external device would have been perfect.

InsaneDavid

04-20-2009, 10:06 PM

(the second model Wondermega is actually the Jap X'Eye)

Not even that, the JVC X'Eye is a stripped down and reworked Wondermega 2. No wireless controllers, no S-Video, etc.

TonyTheTiger

04-20-2009, 10:22 PM

This is strange.

http://www.tototek.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1423

According to this thread, they fixed all the problems that plagued the X'Eye once they got a good dump of the Japanese Wondermega bios. But the thread ends with them getting a good dump of the U.S. X'Eye bios, saying that it could fix the problems the Wondermega has, but then it just stops dead. That apparently was over a year ago.

Vlcice

04-20-2009, 11:19 PM

There was a followup thread in July 2008, which is the one I was referring to - sounds like they couldn't work out the issues with them even with the BIOS.

http://www.tototek.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1995

LiquidPolicenaut

04-21-2009, 12:21 AM

Holy shit, great find for $30! I have the JVC model of the Wondermega (same exact thing except no white ring around the cd disc door) and its is my most prized system (coming slightly ahead of my Panasonic Q). I thought of the same dilemma of the S-Video thing but I just decided to buy an S-Video modded Genesis and have the best of both worlds :) There are a good number of Mega CD games out there (Urusei Yatsura, Yumimi Mix, 3x3 Eyes, Shadowrun to name a few). Enjoy the great system!

P.S.- InsaneDavid is right. The Wondermega 2 (X'Eye here in the US) is crap compared to the original Wondermega. Almost all the cool features removed and it just doesn't look as cool :)

Ed Oscuro

04-21-2009, 12:22 AM

Just piling on the "omg what" bandwagon. I remember being entranced by one of the Wondermega units (a different one but still in the same lineage) on eBay...for $800. Shame about the sound issues; wish I could help. I suppose could you try Shmups Forum's Hardware section though!

TonyTheTiger

04-21-2009, 12:57 AM

The sound isn't the problem. Far from it, in fact. I put on Sonic 2 and turned on the "Game" DAP setting and I swear it was like hearing the game for the first time. The problem is that I have to jump through some hoops to play a lot of my U.S. games on the thing and was wondering (OMG pun!) if there was a way to mod the console so I could just play them natively.

As of now, the choice is between jumping through the hoops for the superior video/sound of the Wondermega or the convenience of the Genesis/SCD combo. But if I can mod the thing then there won't be an issue at all.

And $800? Did it sell at that price?

I looked up all the different models and I have to say I like the Sega branded one the best. I like the white ring and the slightly darker color.

digitalpress

04-21-2009, 09:35 AM

Damn. I kid you not that the range of quotes I got was between $90-$400 which leads me to believe that these things don't show up often enough for anybody to really measure it well.

That's just it - something so scarcely seen (even on eBay) is really hard to put a fair value on it. It's one of those things where I'd ask "what's it worth to you" if someone came to sell it at the store - and if I had the right amount of cash I'd buy it.

Great find and hopefully it becomes your "Sega of choice"! It should certainly be a cornerstone in your collection.

TonyTheTiger

04-21-2009, 10:47 AM

Great find and hopefully it becomes your "Sega of choice"! It should certainly be a cornerstone in your collection.

Yeah, I'm loving it so far. The automatic CD lid and LEDs alone keep me entertained. Though I'm not going to plug it in again until I can find a step down converter or another AC Adapter. The Japanese one is input 100v AC /output 9.5 DC. I measured it and the extra 10-20 volts that is U.S. standard is causing the output to go up to about 15v DC. I'm worried about frying something. I have very little experience with import hardware.

Ed Oscuro

04-21-2009, 11:19 AM

Wait, doesn't the unit come with its own AC adapter? Good work measuring the voltage though.

p.s. If you wanna sell it...name your price man ;)

TonyTheTiger

04-21-2009, 11:43 AM

ShinobiMan

04-21-2009, 12:21 PM

WOW, great find at a great deal. Never knew about that particular unit. Reminds me of the CD X. I picked up one of those for $20 at a pawn shop. It was brand new, I kid you not. Don't you just love steals like that?

jb143

04-21-2009, 12:44 PM

Yeah, it does but the AC adapter is a Japanese one designed for Japan's 100v standard. Since the U.S. uses a 120v standard it's getting more juice than it's designed to so it's firing out more power than it should, 15v instead of 9.5v.

AC adapters are almost always going to read a higher voltage than they are rated. This is becasue they need a load on them to have the proper output voltage.

You can use the voltage and current ratings to calculate the value of resistor to put across the power supply(resistance and wattage). Measuring it then would give you the real output voltage. But even if the voltage is too high, more than likely there's a voltage regulator in the system that can handle it. But then again...you still may not want to risk it.

TonyTheTiger

04-21-2009, 01:19 PM

AC adapters are almost always going to read a higher voltage than they are rated. This is becasue they need a load on them to have the proper output voltage.

You can use the voltage and current ratings to calculate the value of resistor to put across the power supply(resistance and wattage). Measuring it then would give you the real output voltage. But even if the voltage is too high, more than likely there's a voltage regulator in the system that can handle it. But then again...you still may not want to risk it.

Thanks for the tip. I'm probably going to look into getting a U.S. AC Adapter or a step down converter first just to be sure. You're probably right that the console has a voltage regulator but better safe than sorry.

WOW, great find at a great deal. Never knew about that particular unit. Reminds me of the CD X. I picked up one of those for $20 at a pawn shop. It was brand new, I kid you not. Don't you just love steals like that?

$20 brand new? Awesome.

If you wanna sell it...name your price man ;)

I do accept souls. But they have to be good souls. None of this store brand knockoff souls like you find in Shop Rite. It isn't actually Frosted Flakes if it's not Kellogg's!

Ed Oscuro

04-21-2009, 04:33 PM

I do accept souls. But they have to be good souls. None of this store brand knockoff souls like you find in Shop Rite. It isn't actually Frosted Flakes if it's not Kellogg's!
I'm a postmodern atheist, so - deal!

Also, you forgot the TM, and stuff. ;)

On the voltage, be aware that undervolting can be damaging too.

JLukas

04-21-2009, 04:55 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'm probably going to look into getting a U.S. AC Adapter or a step down converter first just to be sure. You're probably right that the console has a voltage regulator but better safe than sorry.

Sega CDX power supply (MK-4122) has the exact same specs, believe it or not, and is perfect for that Wondermega. I own both and it's nice to have one less AC adapter laying around. Congrats on the insane deal.

TonyTheTiger

04-22-2009, 01:49 PM

Sega CDX power supply (MK-4122) has the exact same specs, believe it or not, and is perfect for that Wondermega. I own both and it's nice to have one less AC adapter laying around. Congrats on the insane deal.

Do you know of any AC Adapters I can look for if I go to a Radio Shack or something? I'd like to get one where all the numbers are the same except designed for 120v input instead of 100v.

Ed Oscuro

04-22-2009, 02:20 PM

Japan uses 110v, not 100v. At the end of an extension cord the voltage drop might take it to that level anyhow.

Japan-Games.com

04-22-2009, 07:09 PM

In all my years of selling the only time I've ever heard of a Japanese console getting fried on a US outlet is when the owner used an American power cord. Just use the regular Japanese power cord.

Tupin

04-22-2009, 07:23 PM

Yeah, you're fine using a Japanese power supply in America, the voltage difference is so tiny it doesn't matter. Just use the original Japanese plug and it will be fine.

InsaneDavid

04-22-2009, 08:23 PM

In all my years of selling the only time I've ever heard of a Japanese console getting fried on a US outlet is when the owner used an American power cord. Just use the regular Japanese power cord.

Same here.

TonyTheTiger

04-22-2009, 09:50 PM

Thanks, guys. It's probably just paranoia then. Like I said, I have very little experience with import hardware but if there really isn't any risk then I won't go crazy over it.

What about my original question? Am I out of luck as far as modding the system to play US games?

Also...1,000th post!

LiquidPolicenaut

04-22-2009, 10:33 PM

Just to chime in again, I have had my Wondermega for 5 years now..have used it many, many, many times and nothing has ever happened to it. I use the original Japanese adapter that came with it (damn that JVC adapter is a monster!) in any regulaar US outlet and everythign has always turned out fine....

Japan-Games.com

04-23-2009, 04:25 AM

What about my original question? Am I out of luck as far as modding the system to play US games!

Well, you should keep in mind that you're considering modding a $500+ system just to play US games. Personally, I'd keep the Wondermega as it is and just pick up a cheap second unit from the US.

TonyTheTiger

04-23-2009, 10:56 AM

But the sound...the beautiful beautiful sound! :love: A Genesis/Sega CD combo can't do that.

Of course if the mod is too risky or otherwise a pain in the ass then I wouldn't bother. But I take it that nobody knows one way or the other?

jsiucho

04-23-2009, 11:27 AM

Has anyone compared sounds of wondermega vs laseractive with sega pack. Same, worse, better?.

JS

TonyTheTiger

04-23-2009, 02:02 PM

If they're built with similar architecture there shouldn't be much of a difference. The Wondermega has the DAP settings though which help it out a lot. The "game" DAP setting, at least, sounds great.

Breetai

04-24-2009, 12:43 PM

Japan uses 110v, not 100v.Ummm.... no, Japan used 100v. Living here, and having just checked the plugs on my electrical appliances, I can tell you with 100% certainty that Japan uses 100v.

To the OP, sorry that I can't help you with any knowledge of modding a Wondermega. All I can say is that I'm very jealous of your great deal! There was a model 1 Victor Wondermega (the beautiful version, like you have) for almost 30,000yen I think in Akiba recently that I was pondering, but it's already gone.

TonyTheTiger

04-25-2009, 12:31 PM

As a heads up to anybody interested, there's another one up on Ebay now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sega-WONDERMEGA-Console-Mortal-Kombat-Japan_W0QQitemZ270380173640QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item270380173640&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1240|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A0|293%3A3|294%3A50

TonyTheTiger

04-30-2009, 05:40 PM

Excuse the double post but I just had to gush. I finally got around to hooking this thing up with S-Video and good lord...it's amazing. My other consoles do not look this good in S-Video. I could swear it looks like high definition. I should have gotten my Genesis S-Video modded years ago if this is what I've been missing out on. I highly recommend anybody who hasn't seen Genesis in S-Video to hurry up and do it.

By the way, is it possible to hook up a 32X? I tried putting it in and it actually won't even reach the cartridge connector. It's too deep.